Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Before checking into her lodgings, Cynella couldn't resist checking out the festivities before they were actually ready. She admired the commitment of the workers to ensure this tradition's smooth operation. While tempted to aid them, she wondered if that would be a breach of etiquette on this planet. The Kuati lady addressed her manual for a few moments, occasionally glancing around to make sure she wasn't standing in the way of anything.

A taller figure with hands tucked into the sleeves of her nondescript robes is out surveying the scene as well, dark eyes watching the skeletal booths and tents take shape with detached interest.

"It will all look effortless tomorrow, but we're in time to see the work behind it," she comments, nodding as she steps into Cynella's field of view.

"Oh! Hello, stranger," Cynella said with a bright smile. "It's wonderful to see all the hard work they're putting in, isn't it? All for our sake... at least, I assume you're here for the festivities." She eyed the other lady's robes and considered if she was a fashion-chaser or an actual Jedi. The lightsaber answered that question well enough, unless the trendsetters had gotten particularly crafty. "Or perhaps not? I didn't expect to see a Jedi here." Little did she know...

"I don't have to be looking for a romance of my own to appreciate Alderaan's traditions," Tethys says, one corner of her lips turning up a little. "I may not be the only Jedi you see. It's an important planet, after all."

She untucks her hands from her sleeves and extends the right toward Cynella, for whatever variant of the common Human practice of handshakes/clasps/fist bumps/etc. the other woman might be inclined to. "I'm Tethys Carrack."

"We don't see many at Kuat is the thing. Is Alderaan always so lively in terms of Jedi?" She clasped her hands together, full of excitement. "Regardless, you're right. Alderaan is a wonderful planet that all should be allowed to enjoy."

She released the gesture to take the Jedi's hand for a typical handshake. Best to not get too fancy with someone so... Mysterious! "Cynella Rhiannon Esmetrice Andrim! Cynella is suitable... A pleasure to meet you!"

Tethys's lips move subtly as she attempts to commit each of the many names to somatic memory. "...Cynella, then. It's good to meet you, too." Her long-fingered hand is cool, with a light grip. "Here from Kuat? You've come a long way."

This bit of intelligence frees her from trying to place Cynella's accent--she'd guessed it wasn't Alderaanian, but many of the Core accents started to sound similar after enough time away from the region. "It's my first visit, but I understand there are always at least a few Jedi here, around Castle Panteer or the other population centers." She shrugs one shoulder. "Alderaan's an old world. Many Jedi have been born here."

"I wouldn't say Kuat is that far," Cynella said, tilting her head in thought. "It's not like I came from the Mid-Rim or anything of the sort."

She glanced over at the festivities, or rather, the festivities in the making. She'd heard that this tradition had roots from years upon years ago. Now hold old is Kuat? Well, it wasn't like this Jedi was testing her for a state examination... right?

"My my, I'd say that Alderaan is a lucky planet indeed to be home to so many Jedi. I must assume that the stories of your order's exploits are true, more-or-less. Embellishments, of course, but the heroics!"

"Rather far for an planetary festival. But then I've come some way myself." Tethys regards Cynella steadily. "It's best when there's no need for any heroics, from Jedi or anyone else. We'll see if Alderaan can stay that lucky for a time."

Not a long one, her intuition says, unfortunately.

"Ordinarily, I would agree. But it is House Andrim's desire to become more acquainted with an Alderaanian house. My betrothal, as it were, is a way to open up the negotiating room." Cynella smiled, a bit rueful. "I suppose that's an entirely different life than one of a Jedi. But just as you have your obligations, so do I."

She pursed her lips. "Ah, yes, I suppose a galaxy with no need for heroes would be a better one indeed. Or perhaps one that only needs them in the holovids... Do Jedi get to watch those often?"

"I see." Tethys gives this a measure of thought. "Your obligations call for a certain peace with your own feelings, too, so not entirely different."

"We have long hyperspace transits like anyone else," she says in answer to the question about heroes and holovids, lips quirking a little again.

Though, truthfully, Tethys usually only sees 'vids when she's riding with one or more other crew who like watching them. It isn't the first leisure activity to occur to her when she has time to herself.

"Maybe I'd make a great Jedi if I had the talent," Cynella said with a wink. "I like to think I'd be the dashing, inspirational sort, though I'm curious how you view yourself in the public spotlight."

She pursed her lips, ever so curious what the Jedi watched in her free time. However, she was willing to let that part slide.

"In the public spotlight? That isn't a place I seek to be, generally." Tethys's short laugh bubbles up like a creek flowing over pebbles. "Heroics are a means to an end. Jedi who become more preoccupied with dashing adventures than protecting the peace don't always come to good ends. I try to remember that."

"I suppose that's the case for all heroes, Jedi or not." Cynella pursed her lips in thought then twisted them into a coy smile. "That's right! True heroics often come from the souls who aren't seeking it. I have no doubts that you've done some excellent work to better the galaxy, Tethys Carrack of the Jedi!"

Visibly amused, Tethys half-shrugs. "Hm, maybe. Time will tell." A brow arches upward. "And you, Ms. Cynella? How are you bettering the galaxy?" There's no sarcasm there.

"Oh, me? Well, compared to you, I think my work is far less contributory to the state of things. But if my decisions in the shipmaking leads to an important battle or so-on being won, then perhaps I did my part."

Her good humor dampened. "I'll be honest with you though, Tethys. I'm not sure I really am doing my part."

Tethys considers this, fixing Cynella with a cool, level regard. "What's making you unsure?"

"Oh, I don't know, most of my time is stuck in an office or checking out starship interiors. My parents won't let me get an officer's commission." She shook her head. "It's childish, surely. But thank you for humoring such whining on my part."

"Independent enough to marry, not independent enough to enlist?" Tethys says, her tone thoughtful rather than critical.

"No, it's not at all childish. There are other ways to help outside of war, though. A shipmaking executive holds power too."

Cynella flushed. "It's their hope that I marry on behalf of the House. That being said, if I am to marry into House Panteer or another Alderaanian House, then perhaps they will be more amenable to a military career. In the meantime, I wonder how you believe I could help with the war effort."

"Technically, the Republic isn't at war at the moment," Tethys points out, though in a tone that suggests some unhappy emphasis on that Technically. "Whatever you consider your aptitudes to be, there are peacetime ways to use them toward making life in the galaxy more peaceful, just, and safe."